Chevrolet Malibu Seats Problems
Owners have filed 370 complaints with NHTSA about seats problems on the Chevrolet Malibu across 24 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (69). The words owners use most often: “driver seat” (32% of reports).
- 370seats complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 17mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Driver seat: mentioned in 119 of 370 complaints (32%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical seats repair on the Chevrolet Malibu at $1,350, and half of them between $1,150 and $1,400.
Based on 27 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do seats problems happen?
Based on 270 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 370 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 15 a fire, 17 an injury.
Chevrolet Malibu seats complaints by model year
| Model year | Seats complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Malibu | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2022 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 104,000 |
| 2021 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 8,000 |
| 2018 Malibu | 2 | 0% | 14,000 |
| 2017 Malibu | 6 | 1% | 55,000 |
| 2016 Malibu | 6 | 1% | 49,114 |
| 2015 Malibu | 10 | 4% | 35,000 |
| 2014 Malibu | 6 | 2% | 75,813 |
| 2013 Malibu | 22 | 3% | 49,955 |
| 2012 Malibu | 36 | 4% | 69,500 |
| 2011 Malibu | 38 | 4% | 91,000 |
| 2010 Malibu | 25 | 2% | 72,560 |
| 2009 Malibu | 30 | 2% | 75,000 |
| 2008 Malibu | 8 | 1% | 67,500 |
| 2007 Malibu | 16 | 2% | 125,000 |
| 2006 Malibu | 8 | 1% | 67,000 |
| 2005 Malibu | 62 | 6% | 89,000 |
| 2004 Malibu | 69 | 6% | 96,000 |
| 2003 Malibu | 2 | 0% | 54,950 |
| 2001 Malibu | 5 | 1% | 100,936 |
| 2000 Malibu | 2 | 0% | — |
| 1999 Malibu | 3 | 0% | — |
| 1998 Malibu | 6 | 1% | 116,486 |
| 1997 Malibu | 4 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Seats
Model years: 2021
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.
Risk: An improperly welded seat frame may not adequately restrain the driver in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212356050.
Seats:front assembly:power adjust; electrical system:wiring
Model years: 2013
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured October 25, 2011, through June 29, 2012 and equipped with the 8-way power adjustable front seat feature. The wiring harness for the power seat may contact the seat frame which may chafe the harness.
Risk: If the harness is chaffed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit could occur, resulting unintended movement of the seat, the seat to become inoperative, sparking under the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness and repair and secure it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13342.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, while adjusting the front driver's seat, the seat adjuster failed to operate as intended. The front driver's seat failed to move backwards. The contact stated that it was a known failure with the…
Car has 161,848 miles and the seat frame broke on the drivers side of my 2012 Chevy Malibu. It had a slight tilt to the right. It was taken to the Chevrolet Dealership and they inspected and verified that the frame welding was broken. I have a video from the service tech showing the broken frame. I…
Transmission has been slipping since the day I bought the car in 2023 approximately at 90,000 miles, I have been keeping up with the manufactured recommendations on the transmission and march of 2026 I went to move the passenger seat and it no longer moves
There is a frequency coming from the front of the driver's seat, steering wheel, and under the instrument panel that sends a electrical shock as you drive. If you have aluminum foil or any type of material that blocks electrical signals in the driver's seat it will shock you as well. This could…
The driver's seat bracket broke causing the seat to sag to the right and for the back of the seat to rise up. Pictures were taken and are attached. Available for inspection until fixed. The view is from the front. My finger points to the failed weld. In an accident, the seat might break off causing…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Malibus have seats problems?
No. NHTSA has 370 owner complaints about seats for the Chevrolet Malibu. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Malibu seats?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list seats. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix seats problems on the Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,350 (half paid between $1,150 and $1,400), from 27 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about seats problems on the Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “driver seat”, in 119 of 370 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Malibu problems
- Steering problems (5,556)
- Electrical System problems (4,722)
- Engine problems (2,168)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,924)
- Power Train problems (1,666)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (1,315)
- Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems (1,236)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,181)
See all Chevrolet Malibu problems.